> Changeling or Not
>  by Lord Despair
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Becoming a Guard
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"I, Bright Justice do solemnly swear that I will faithfully pledge my allegiance to Celestia and the land of Equestria, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the laws and citizens of Equestria." 

Today was a very important day for a this young Pegasus, today was the day he would graduate from the royal guard academy and be inducted into the official royal guard of Equestria. He stood on a wooden stand in the middle of Canterlot town square, he stood in front of his commanding officer, Dusky Trails; Sergeant Major of the Royal Guard of Canterlot, which was the second highest in the Equestrian royal guard; since the highest was Commanding General of Royal Guard, or CGRG for short. Bright gave him a quick salute before accepting his title of Pvt. Justice. 

After him was Bright's very good friend, Cloudy Steel. A Pegasus like himself, but the only difference was Cloudy was more scrawny. Cloudy tended to be a coward at times, and wore glasses. While Bright was more muscular and taller than Cloudy was. Cloudy graduated for always getting perfect scores on the tests, his agility, and his speed. While Bright graduated because of his combat skills, strength, and agility. But he never did too well on tests, he passed them; but he never got a perfect score like Cloudy did. But either way, they made it and they planned on staying in the guard for a long time. They became so confident for their time being there, they even made a bet. Who ever got to Sgt or higher, the loser would have to pay 100 bits.

When they started, Bright and Cloudy were given the position they called "Door Duty" where they stood in front of the throne rooms doors for hours on end until their shifts ended there. Then they would be moved to street walking; where they would walk the streets of Canterlot. Bright enjoyed this time because he was able to interact with the community of Canterlot, he was always a good stallion. He never did anything to hurt or offend anypony, he would help old mares with bags, help lost children or even play along with them if no other guard was around. But every time Cloudy caught him, he would always remind Bright that playing hoofball with the kids isn't getting him closer to being Sargent. All in all, Bright was a good stallion. But he took his guard duty seriously when it came to criminals, whenever somepony broke the law and Bright was the one to bring them in, Bright would make sure that the pony who committed the crime got what he or she deserved.

But, his final position was his least favorite and he had Cloudy to agree with him. His last shift was keeping watch over ponies in the death row cells. It sickened him knowing that the ponies in these cells murdered, raped, or did any other despicable thing to get where they are now. It would nearly make him gag every time he heard another guard come in yelling,

"Dead pony walking" over and over again before getting the criminal to its cell. That was another thing, Bright never called any of the ponies in death row living beings or him or her. It was always it or thing. He had little to no respect for the scum that filled that cell corridor.

But the worst of it all was when an execution would be held. The agonizing screams and shouts from those things could be heard from all the way to Apple Loosa and The Badlands.  There were two ways a pony on death row died, either by hanging or electric chair with the electric chair being the most common. But one death wasn't spoken of, it was never used since 1881, when a stallion nicknamed 'Crazy Horse' was executed. He raped 13 young fillies in both Las Pegasus and Ponyville, murdered 20 ponies in Manehatten, Las Pegasus, Ponyville, and Apple Loosa, and burned down half of Apple Loosa.

It was called death by torture. For it to work, a unicorn of the royal guard had to use the magic of torture. But the unicorn who was the one to commit such an act had to be CGRG or higher in the royal guard ranks. It was banned by the Equestrian empire because it was voted too violent and was very unlike the peaceful ways of the Equestrian government and law.

But at the end of the day, Bright considers all the events he encounters all worth it when it comes to the safety of the innocent and sadly oblivious community of Canterlot and Equestria. Yes, both Bright and Cloudy believed that the community of Canterlot  if not Equestria were oblivious to the more darker world that's been hidden from them for so long. The poverty and slavery in Indoneighsia, the prostitution of Manehatten and Las Pegasus, and other starving countries such as the Zebra Republic. 

Canterlot was like a gem in Equestria, wanting to keep it safe and hidden from danger as much as possible. It was Bright and Cloudy's job to keep that safety in check and to make sure that nothing like the Changeling attacks ever happen again.

But this duty they had, and their oath to their ruler Princess Celestia, would be challenged and broken. But would it be for the best?


~***~


Bright arrived to the locker rooms where the guards left their armor and took showers at the end of their shifts. There was a small break room at the end of the large room where some of the guards lazed and relaxed until an alert happened or if they had to change to their other shifts.

Bright grabbed his armor, buckled and latched the belts under his stomach and waist. He carried the helmet with his left wing to the break room. Nopony else was there, except for Smoke Bomb; another private like Bright. Bright always hated Smoke, he was arrogant, he would always boast about how is great grandfather was considered a war hero for saving a general from being shot with an arrow in the Batpony and Equestrian war, where the Batponies were at war with the Equestrian army for independence and more land. Sadly that war was one of the very small amount of lost wars for the Equestrian empire. But Smoke seemed to forget that part of the story.

Smoke didn't pay Bright no mind, but instead read his newspaper. Bright sat in a chair from across the room, with nothing to do he just sat there occasionally fiddling with a feather from his wings. He sat like this until Smoke began to speak.

"Hey newbie, decided to come into work today huh? Got nothing else to do with your life right?" He said still keeping his eyes focused to the paper.

"Shut up Smoke! You're as new here as I am!" Bright argued in defense.

"Oh yeah? At least military defense runs in my family! Unlike your pansy cloud kicking ancestors."

Smoke was one of the main reasons why Bright disliked most unicorns.

"Just because your grandfather saved a general in the war doesn't mean you're any better at combat than I am!"

"What ever chatte!"" Smoke went back to reading his paper but mumbled "Je vous jure, un jour vous allez brûler"

Bright glared at Smoke, but didn't say anything. He didn't see the point of starting another argument with Smoke. Besides, what could he do? Smoke's father is CGRG of the Crystal empire, if Bright pushed Smoke too far it would be all over for Bright. He would be out of the job and so much worse. Luckily Smoke has been told that he only has one more year in Canterlot before he's moved to the Crystal Empire's guard patrol, then he'll be their problem.

Bright and Smoke lazed around some more until SgtMaj. Dusky rushed to the small room with a determined face but was still hinted with fear. Both Bright and Smoke quickly stood up and saluted to their leader.

"At ease. We have a sighting of changelings on the edge of the everfree forest. We must go and apprehend them and bring them back here! Understand?" Smoke and Bright saluted once more and quickly followed Dusky out of the locker rooms and quickly flew towards the everfree.


~***~


It didn't take long for Bright, Smoke, and Dusky to get to the everfree, being skilled flyers they were able to fly to the everfree in 1 or two hours to the most. Since it was a changeling situation, they had to get there quickly; ever since the wedding attacks from the changelings they've been outlawed in Equestria and the Crystal Empire. The only two places they could refuge or visit are the smokey mountains to the in the north; land of the dragons and the second land is near the dark woods in the south; which belonged to the Batponies who are still strong allies of the Changelings.

"Okay, Pvt. Bright, I want you to patrol the left side of the forest, Pvt. Bomb, I need you to flank right. I'll go straight down and look for the changelings. Report back here in 20 minutes." Dusky said in a low and serious tone.

"Yes sir!" Both Bright and Smoke said simultaneously while saluting. 

Bright went his way and made sure to keep and eye out for changeling whereabouts. Ever since the wedding attack all guards are trained to detect changelings even if they are in disguise. It was easier to detect a changeling in a unicorn disguise since all changeling magic has green aura, they also have a tint of blue in the white of the eyes; but the blue is in the very deep corners of the eyes so it takes a guard to stretch the eye so that the corner of the eye is visible. 

Bright kept walking but didn't find a changeling, an animal, just plants and nature. So he took this opportunity to take a peaceful stroll. 


~***~ 


Smoke slowly went down his rout keeping a sharp eye out for the changeling.

"Where are you, you buggy bastards!" Smoke said to himself getting his spear ready for combat. "C'mon, you think I'm scared? Think you could mess with me?" He kept asking himself, he kept walking for a little longer before hearing small rustling from a near by shrub. 

The noise alone startled Smoke, he flailed his arms in the air and screamed like a scared filly at a new school. He quickly rushed out of the area, leaving the rustling to be a simple rat. Smoke kept running still flailing his arms and screaming before tripping over a large lump of something. He trembled on the ground when he saw what that lump was.

It was a bruised, cut up changeling with pink wings instead of blue. Smoke thought that this had to be a female changeling, but how? Female changelings never left camps or villages, especially by themselves. So why would this one be out near the forest? But the bigger question was, 

is there more?

Smoke could hear Dusky and Bright calling out his name, he could also hear hooves rushing towards him, he quickly glanced back at the injured changeling who was still moaning in pain. This image gave him an idea. An idea that would establish his bravery and get him up higher in the ranks.

He slowly got up with his spear in his hooves, pointed the small blade to the changeling's neck and slowly began to put pressure on the neck. Right when blood began to appear Smoke heard his name again, this time right behind him.

"Pvt. Smoke! Cease your attack!" Smoke turned around to see Dusky and Bright with surprised yet stern faces.

"Oh thank Celestia you two came, uh this changeling scum tried to jump me, but I was able to subdue her with my spear and combat skills, Sir!" Smoke exclaimed to Dusky, his lies were believable enough for Dusky to fall for it. But Bright wasn't convinced, he knew that Smoke wasn't the best during combat tests in the academy, he also knew that Smoke was a conniving liar who got his way with every lie that fell out his mouth.

"Good work Pvt! Are you injured?" Dusky asked getting closer to the changeling on the ground.

"Well, other than this scrape on my leg, I'm fine." Smoke replied, Bright looked at Smoke's scar and knew that the scar he had came from tripping and falling on your hooves. Playground scars he would call them; since when Bright was young he kept tripping and falling at every playground he would go to.

"Yeah, good job Smoke." Bright said sarcastically.

"I'm sorry Bright, I didn't know that were a jealous one. Tell ya what, when I get a medal for bravery I'll let you shine it! While your serving me tea on a silver platter and kissing my hooves." Smoke replied with a sly grin stuck on his face.

"Shut up you pansy I know you didn't take down that changeling! Maybe it was already injured!" Bright exclaimed.

"Both of you shut up!" Dusky shouted still cuffing the changeling's hooves.

"Yes sir!" They both said in response.

"Now, let's report this... Thing to Celestia." This confused Bright and Smoke, whenever a changeling was found they would go directly to the death cells. They would never be reported to Celestia. Then again their last changeling that the guard files have was about two years ago; a month after the wedding attack. 

Dusky lifted the injured changeling on his back and they all began to fly back to Canterlot. Dusky was slower however since he was trying to keep balance of the changeling on his back while still flying straightly. Smoke took front position while Bright got behind Dusky, getting a view of the changeling's face. It slowly opened its eyes in pain and sadness. For some reason, this look gave Bright the idea that maybe this changeling was innocent.

But that was impossible! 25% of his academy lessons were about changelings and how to detect them. And the academy didn't give them much of a good name or a representation. They were described as disgusting flying bugs that needed to be exterminated.

But this changeling was more, pure. 'This changeling' Bright thought, 'this changeling is innocent.'

He flew closer to Dusky but was still behind him.

"Uh, Sir? I've been thinking that maybe Smoke didn't apprehend this changeling, maybe this changeling was injured in the first place." 

"Okay and?" Dusky replied.

"Well, I think that this changeling is most likely innocent and has done nothing wrong." Dusky slowed down some more and whispered.

"Do you think I don't believe that too? I'm just believing Smoke for now because he has close tie-ins with the princess and she's my only way for becoming CGRG."

"So you're gonna throw an innocent pony on death row because of rank status?" Bright asked.

"Well that's another thing Pvt. It's new protocol that whenever a royal guard of any rank sees or spots a changeling, they must apprehend and turn in that said changeling. Celestia said it herself that changelings were like a-"

"Bug that needed to be exterminated I know, they kept telling me that in the academy. But I honestly think that this changeling did nothing wrong in the first place."

"Well Pvt. I'm sorry to say that you can't just walk away from this like you did with most missions back in the academy. Your last chance to walk home to mama was the day you signed your name on the royal guard sign up sheet." Bright and Dusky stayed silent for the rest of the flight. Every so often, the changeling would look at Bright with eyes asking

'why? Why would you let them do this? Help me please!'

It pained Bright every time. So he would always look away.
> Innocence Behind Bars 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Finally Bright, Smoke, and Dusky got back to the palace. When they landed near the front gates, everypony including the guards cheered for the three stallions for capturing the changeling. Bright was surprised to see Cloudy cheering along with the crowd, but Bright gave a sad and the 'not now' kind of face which confused Cloudy; wasn't Bright happy about capturing the changeling?

Dusky and Smoke dragged the changeling as they walked while Bright barely lifted his hooves as he slowly trudged behind them.They entered the main hall that was bustling with royal guards, scribes and butlers, and some janitors here and there. When they reached the throne room they weren't surprised when they found Celestia perched upon her throne. The giant room is shiny with a glimmer of gold in each corner of the room. It smelt of the most expensive perfume, and very fancy foreign incense. A bright red carpet led the way to Celestia while on her throne.

Bright, Smoke, and Dusky walked that carpet to Celestia who in the beginning was smiling her gentle royal smile, but when her gaze fell upon the changeling in Smoke and Dusky's arms, her smile deteriorated and turned into more of a serious and menacing one.

"Your highness, earlier today we received a notice that this changeling has been spotted outside of the Everfree forest. Pvt. Smoke was able to subdue her while she tried to rush him." This news shocked Celestia, she didn't care how Smoke was able to apprehend the changeling but why the changeling was out in the first place.

"Was there more?" She asked in a stern and concerned voice.

"None that we could report your highness, but my studies to show that female changelings only stay in the villages or camps they live in and must not le-" Smoke was interrupted by Celestia.

"I know the rule of female changelings Pvt. What I want to know is why she was there in the first place." Celestia said starting to sound annoyed.

"Maybe she was trying to attack somepony but failed, that's probably why she's injured." Smoke said but Bright was quick enough to correct him.

"Highly unlikely, female changelings are never supposed to leave villages or camps correct? Then why did this one leave? I think she didn't leave, and she was probably purged from her camp or village. That's also probably why she's injured because maybe her village or camp attacked her. Changelings are known for their violence towards one another if on broke the laws of the village." Bright didn't learn much from the academy but he did learn a lot from his changeling studies; he did have Cloudy's help on that subject so that's probably why he knew it so well.

"Thank you for the information Pvt. Justice but we're here to hold a trial, not trade theories. This is a serious matter! If there are more changelings near by in the everfree then sooner or later they will try to attack Ponyville. We must send a search party to look for more of them to make sure they're not going to attack." Celestia exclaimed making Bright shudder with fear at the sudden volume of her voice.

"Now, on to the situation at hoof." Celestia looked towards the changeling who was awake but still looked very weak and hurt. "Tell me your name changeling."

A long pause, then the changeling replied weakly but clear as crystal.

"H-Hivie, my name is Hivie." 

"Hivie, you are sentenced to death by hanging come this winter. How do you plead?" This sentence made Bright nervous, winter was only five weeks away. He had to think of something fast. Before Hivie could respond Bright exclaimed.

"Your highness, I believe this changeling, Hivie is innocent and has done nothing wrong or has broken any Equestrian laws. The only law she seemed to have broken is trespassing on Equestrian soil which is not a death sentence and is only a fifty year sentence to the dungeon." Bright said with determination stuck on his face.

"Maybe if you were to think before interrupting maybe you wouldn't sound like a fool Pvt. Justice! The law has changed, now if any changelings trespasses on Equestrian soil they are automatically sentenced to death as soon as possible. Now please keep your outbursts to yourself!" All the determination left Bright's face and was replaced with embarrassment and shame.

"My apologizes your highness." Bright said with a bow.

"You are forgiven, now back to you Hivie. How do you plead?" Hivie stared at Celestia with angry yet sad eyes and said,

"Onskuldig jy wat!" Celestia's eyes widened with shock.

"Take this scum to the dungeon so she can wait for her demise! First get her to the dungeon medic to get her wounds bandaged and treated." Celestia commanded. Smoke and Dusky left carrying the changeling to the cells leaving Bright alone with Celestia. "As for you Pvt. Justice, I hope you learn to hold your tongue while I sentence a criminal."

"yes your highness, it'll never happen again." Bright said with a bow.

"It better now, it would be a shame if I had to make another guard homeless for not obeying my orders." Celestia said in the same calm tone she always had, which for Bright made it even more intimidating.

"Yes your highness." he replied trying to hide the fear in his voice.

"Now, report to your post in the death cells." Celestia demanded.

"yes your highness"


~***~


Bright slowly made his way to the holding cells of death row where he saw Cloudy taking his space.

"Hey Bright, hey! Hey I'm talking to you!" Cloudy said trying to get Bright's attention but was failing at doing so.

"I-I'm sorry Cloudy, look go do your next shift I got it covered from here." Bright said depressingly.

"Dude, what's wrong? I noticed you looked more sad when you came back with Smoke and the Sarge."

"Look, it's about the changeling. I think she's innocent and I just feel guilty OK? So please just do your city rounds I'll catch up to you at lunch break." Bright said patting Cloudy on the back to get him out of the small room.

"Alright champ, let me know what happened later okay?" 

"Sure thing bud." Bright replied trying to smirk a little but was having a hard time, he kept remembering Hivie's face of pain and sadness that needed him. He felt as if he failed his duty as a royal equestrian guard, he denied another living being's plea for help; a plea for forgiveness. All he did in return was look away and ignore the poor changeling.

He looked around the small room that was cornered by cells and cages all around the larger stone room. He saw murderers, rapists, and drug dealers all having something in common leaving Hivie to be the only one without that similarity.

Being innocent.

Hivie's cell was right across from Bright's office that had a giant fiberglass window so that he could see all of the prisoners with Hivie being the one he first sees when he looks out the window. Guilt would quickly course through his veins every time he saw her stone cold stare, he couldn't take it anymore he had to come up with some way for this changeling to stop looking at him like that. So the next day when his cell shift began, he waited until every guard left before talking to Hivie, if he were caught talking to Hivie it would be the tree of death for him by sunrise.

When the coast was clear he finally encountered her cell. When he got a better view of this changeling he realized that her wounds and bruises were still open. Then he realized that she never got medical attention. He rushed back to his post and grabbed the first aid kit. He then rushed back to the cell all while Hivie was sleeping.

He slowly got close to the cell with the medical kit under his wing.

"Changeling, hey changeling!" He whispered loudly. She made small moments until she finally woke from her slumber. She slowly looked up at Bright who was only staring at her.

"I have a name pegasus!" She exclaimed

"Sorry, uh Hivie is it?" Bright asked.

"Yes, what is it pegasus? Come to beat your prisoner?" Hivie said in an annoyed tone.

"Um, no no Hivie. Actually I'm here to do the exact opposite." Bright replied with a nervous chuckle. He presented the small medical kit from his wing. He could see her face turn from an annoyed and suspicious one to a slightly hopeful yet still suspicious face. I put the small kit to the front of the cage and slid it between the bars. When it dropped to the cell floor Hivie scrambled to get it. She quickly opened it and pulled out the bandages and gauze. 

Bright watched Hivie work on her damages. She patched herself up at almost a pro level. Bright watched in amazement as Hivie bandaged herself with quick and careful finesse.

"How did you do that?" Bright asked still in amazement. Hivie feeling more comfortable with Bright answered,

"I was a medical nurse in my community. Or, I used to be anyway." She said with sadness growing on her face.

"What do you mean by that Hivie?" Never would Bright think that he would be peacefully talking to a changeling. While being in death row at that.

"I don't think I wish to tell you. I thank you for the medical equipment but please leave me be." Bright was disappointed but he understood why Hivie didn't want to speak to him. Even though he had helped her with her wounds, he still knew that Hivie was still somewhat angry at him. 

But one thing still lingered in the back of his head, Hivie still had to go take her death sentence and if Bright didn't do anything now, he would let innocence die.

It was his job to keep innocence safe from any harm.


~***~


The next day Bright did his normal routine, first was door duty, then street walking, then finally cell guarding. Surprisingly the day went by pretty fast and well. But when he got to the cell position he found a note on the table in the office. He picked it up and it read,

List of prisoners who will be executed this coming Spring.

Leather Bondage

Blade Edge

Tasteless Wine

Hivie Tak' Mashar

and Sharp Feather 

Bright nearly screamed at Hivie's name. She didn't deserve to be on this list, she didn't deserve to be in her dark cell at all. Bright had to do something, but what? What could one Private do to help a changeling? Most ponies would say it was impossible but Bright was known to not give up so easily.

Bright quickly took the note and rushed to the throne room to ask the princess to hopefully grant the permission to release Hivie from prison. As he assumed Celestia was sitting on her throne looking graceful yet stern as she always does. He quickly trotted to the front of the throne and saluted while saying,

"Your highness I have just received a note informing me that a prisoner by the name of Hivie the Changeling will be executed in less than a month. I am here to propose that she is innocent and does not deserve to be on death row nor be in prison in the first place!" He said in his serious military tone. His wings shuffled with nervousness as Celestia's gaze fell upon him. She looked more at peace and calm than before when she first saw the changeling.

"I see, Private have you encountered this changeling at all during you shifts in the cells?" Bright was nearly about to throw up. His stomach felt weak, his legs and hooves were like pudding and his stature nearly faltered. Was he really willing to lie to his ruler and princess for just one changeling? Was it worth it?

"No your highness, I have kept my distance from the prisoner in question." 

"Of course, please continue your idea of letting this changeling go free." She said still with a calm tone.

"Right, um I believe that this changeling has done nothing wrong in the beginning of all these events. So I propose that she shall be set free back to her land." Celestia only stared Bright right in the eyes. Bright felt smaller and more weak with the princess practically staring into his soul.

Suddenly her horn began to glow making Bright nearly flee in fear from the throne room. But as hard as he tried he couldn't move. He quickly looked back at the princess who looked more angry and godly than usual. Bright cowered in fear as it got brighter and brighter. Finally what seemed quick and painless he dropped back down to the ground feeling weak and limp. He struggled to get up it felt as if he just flew 200 laps around Equestria itself.

"Wha-wha-what, did, y-you d-do!?" Bright asked with fear and weakness staining his voice. His whole body was shaking and felt tingly inside. He was lacking in air and his vision was blurry.

"Protection spell private. I feared you would come under that changeling's spell as soon as she entered that cell. So for your safety you will no longer hold that shift, instead you will continue with street walking. Believe me private, it will be for the best."

Bright didn't have the strength to object, but he did have the strength to think of a plan. So as he got up he decided to roll with what she had just done.

"Oh, thank you your highness! That blasted changeling took my mind from me! Last thing I remember I was just making sure she wasn't scamming to escape. That's when everything blacked out! Oh I thank you my princess!" Bright was putting up the best act he could, he was never ashamed of the fact that when he was in high school he was the top performer in his acting class.

Celestia only chuckled and grinned.

"You are welcome private. Since you are so grateful you have earned the rest of the day off to relax and... Come back to reality."

Bright bowed his head and began walking out of the throne room. As he walked out blew air of relief as he wiped the nervous sweat from his head.

"Thank goddess that worked!"
> Plan It Out
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bright hurried his way to the locker rooms to drop off his armor and equipment. On his way he passed the cells Hivie and other criminals waiting on death row stayed in.

As he passed the cells, he eyed all the inmates within each cell. He glared at all the rapists, murderers, and thieves with a stone cold face. But when he reached Hivie’s cell, he glanced at the changeling with a kind and soft face, making her blush.

He chuckled and grinned as he went towards the door that separates the cells from the locker room. Bright, along with Cloudy believed that the design of the cells and buildings were faulty. As organized as they were, it would only take one criminal, one inmate to break out, sneak into the locker rooms, steal some armor and infiltrate the palace.

Bright has time and time again warned the head guards, including SgtMaj. Dusky, who always replied with,

“We have the most secure guard system Equestria has to offer. The escapee would need a whole army in order to break outta here.”

His warnings weren't payed any mind, nor were they tended to at times. After a while of being ignored, he just stopped with his complaints.

He entered the locker rooms and opened his locker door. As he opened it he began to unbuckle the belts of his armor. He took his helmet off and placed it inside the large metal locker.

The gaze he shared with Hivie was still in his mind however. He couldn't just stand aside and let an innocent creature be executed for being misunderstood. 

“Lucky you Bright Justice! Getting a day off, very great for you indeed! I also enjoyed that little performance you played for the Princess back there, very believable. I’m amazed Celestia didn't see right though it though. Turns out she’s not all that bright huh?”

Bright turned his head to see Smoke behind him, the grey Pegasus leaning against a locker.

“What is it Smoke?” Bright asked sounding annoyed.

“Look you! Celestia might be dense enough to not notice your little act, but I’m not! You better watch yourself Bright, or I’ll just have to let SgtMaj. Dusky know that you've been conversing with the Changeling.”

Bright glared at the Pegasus. Wishing that he burnt up in flames right there and then.

“Oh yeah? Well, you say Celestia is dense you don’t really pay attention to the fact that I was under the Changeling’s control. Also, I know you really didn't take down the Changeling, I remember your combat skills in the academy. It was pretty fun to watch really.”

“Shut up you! You better watch yourself or else!” Smoke pointed with a hoof. He chuckled and left the room.

As Bright put his stuff away he heard the door open again, Bright cursed under his breath thinking that it was Smoke again.

He turned around and exclaimed,

“What is it Smoke!?” His face turned into a surprised one when he saw Cloudy instead.

“Whoa Bright, I’m not Smoke. What’s up?”

“Eh, fine. Smoke was in here earlier. He was just being a dickhead. No big deal.” Bright responded.

“Yeah, hey you see that new Changeling in the cells? She keeps giving me the stink eye every time I pass her cell. Kinda creeps me out, like she’s casting a hex or a spell on me.” Cloudy said while taking off his helmet.

Bright began to get closer to Cloudy who noticed this as a whisper encounter.

“Listen Cloudy, this may sound crazy but you gotta believe me. I think the Changeling is innocent.” Cloudy’s eyes widened and his head shot back.

“Uh, Bright, are you sure you’re not under the Changeling’s control?”

“No Dark! I’m not under her control. But listen, I need you to get along with her.” Bright whispered.

“What!? Why?” Bright asked sounding terrified of the idea.

“Well… Because you’re a really big piece in the plan I’m trying to figure out.”

Cloudy slowly backed up from Bright who didn't really notice his subtle movements. With a swift motion, Cloudy grabbed his spear and put the sharp end to Bright’s neck.

“Cloudy, what are you doing?” Bright asked sounding irritated instead of scared.

“Y-You Changeling brute! Where’s the real Bright!? What did you do with him!?” 

“Wait, Cloudy- Dammit! Cloudy! I’m me! I’m not a changeling! How could I be the changeling if she’s in the cell right now?”

Cloudy blinked and leaned back still with the spear head to Bright’s neck. Cloudy’s neck craned back to see Hivie sitting on the ground looking like she was carving something in the wall.

“...Good point.” Cloudy pulled back his spear head and put it back down.

“Anyways, Cloudy I was given the rest of the day off and you’ll be taking my shift, and I want you to get along with Hivie. She’s gonna need full trust in you for this to work.”

Bright began to get that unsure look Cloudy was well known for giving.

“Uh… Bright, I really don’t think I want to do that...Sh-She’s a Ch-Changeling. I-I might g-get in trouble and g-get fired o-or w-w-worse!”

“Cloudy! Look at me!” Bright grabbed Cloudy’s shoulders.

“Listen, buddy, I would never put you in a position where you’d get in trouble, or hurt.”

“I’M GONNA GET HURT!!??” Cloudy exclaimed.

“No you’re not gonna get hurt! And keep your voice down, I’m trying to keep this under wraps!”

“B-But Bright, I get real worried around new ponies. She’s not a pony which will make it harder for me. Then her holes in her hooves will set off my Trypophobia, what if she doesn't like me? What if she doesn't speak Equestrian? What if-”

“Woah calm down Cloudy! You won’t get in trouble, she will like you, your trypophobia will be set off but it’ll be nothing major. I promise you Cloudy! I swear on a stack of bibles that you will never get in trouble doing this. Understand?”

With a slow, and unsure nod Cloudy agreed to his friend.

“H-hehe, sometimes I still wonder how we’re friends Bright.” Cloudy responded with his voice cracking a little.

“It’s the eight wonder of the world buddy. Now I’m gonna go home and plan this whole thing out. Tomorrow, meet me at my place and I’ll give you the fill in got it?” Bright asked putting a hoof on Cloudy’s shoulder.

“I guess... “ Cloudy responded. With a pat on the shoulder, Bright left the room and in the distance, Cloudy heard the double iron doors close. Leaving him alone in the locker room.
“Oh mercy…” Cloudy quickly pulled out an inhaler from his locker and quickly puffed it in his mouth.

He left his helmet in the locker room but made sure to bring his spear. Just in case he had to use it.

He walked out the locker rooms and into the cell blocks. He slowly walked towards Hivie’s cell. Approaching it like a foal does to an amusement park mascot. He kept a safe distance from the cells and he began to speak.

“H-Hello… Ch-Change- I mean uh… H-Hivie… H-How a-are you?” Cloudy was shaking vigorously with fear. The metal of his armor was clanging and shuttering as he shook.

“What is it Red One?” Hivie must have said this more sternly than she intended since Cloudy was now on the ground with his hooves put in a prayer position.

“Oh please don’t hurt me Hivie! I promise I won’t annoy you any more! Just don’t hurt me! I bruise easy, I have asthma, don’t break my glasses, I’ll give you anything! I’ll give you my wallet, the deed to my home, my life savings the- H-Hey… Why are you laughing?” Cloudy asked getting up from his begging position.

Hivie was on the ground grabbing at her stomach, and rolling on the ground laughing hysterically. So were the other prisoners in the cell block.

“Pussy!”

“Wimp!”

“Bitch!” 

The prisoners called out. Cloudy began to blush as he got back down and hid his face from the prisoners laughs and pointing hooves with his wings and violently began to shake again.

Hivie, taking a breather from her laughing noticed Cloudy’s cowardice and she got close to the bars.

“H-Hey! Red One, why are you scarred? It was just funny is all... Red One?” Hivie sat on her haunches as she watched Cloudy shake in fear with his wings still covering his face.

“When danger is near, just cover up your eyes, ‘cause danger cannot see you when you are in disguise.” Cloudy chanted over and over again. Getting some chuckles out of this act Hivie reached her hoof between the bars to touch Cloudy’s head.

Cloudy jumped up with a little gasp of air, being startled by the sudden touch and Hivie’s hoof.

“Red One… It’s alright, we were just having a little fun is all. You don’t need to be scared.”

Cloudy’s glasses began to fog up so he took them off and rubbed them with a hoof. He placed them back on and began to speak,

“W-Well, I-I don’t usually e-encounter Changelings a-all that much… So I got scared. B-But, why are you acting so kind all of a sudden? D-Don’t you hate ponies?” Cloudy asked with a hint of fear still lingering on his voice.

“Oh yes definitely. But, I heard Bright talking to you about how you need to get to know me better for his little plan to work. I don’t know what it is, but I know it’s good. Because I like Bright. And if that means I have to like you too, then I guess you’re OK Red One.”

Cloudy shyly grinned as he sat on his haunches to face Hivie. He pushed his glasses back up his muzzle as he began to speak.

“P-Please, Hivie. Call me Cloudy.” 

> Blueprints part one 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Baah! That won’t work either!” Bright grumbled to himself as he studied the blueprints to the castle dungeon. At first, Bright thought that it wouldn’t take much to break out of that dungeon on account of it’s size and simplicity.

But as he got more deep into the progress of the plan, the dungeon seemed to be more complicated than thought. WIth hidden vents, chambers, and the confusing and twisted way the cages were organized, it became more harder than it should’ve been.

Bright took a bottle of whiskey and his shot glass. He poured a small amount and quickly shot back the bitter liquid. Bright wasn't much of a drinker, but when he had to work late on paperwork or just to make harder jobs at work a bit easier.

He glanced at the blueprints and the schedule for the other guards he worked with. His first worry was Smoke Bomb and the possibility of him ruining the plan and turning him in. However, when he checked his schedule, he was pleased to learn that his shift during the time of the breakout is gate duty for the main gates of the castle; Bright would be in the clear of that bastard.

As Bright began planning out another plot to breakout Hivie, he felt his eyelids get heavy. Knowing that this was the first sign of falling asleep, Bright settled with what he had schemed up and began to walk over to his small bed.

Bright didn’t live in a large house. He technically didn’t own a house. He lived in a guard's room within the royal palace.

Finally laying down, it didn’t take long for Bright to fall asleep.


~***~


Bright’s eyes snapped open as he found himself bound to a chair. Leather straps keeping his hooves to the arms of the chair. He tried moving his wings, but soon discovered that they were bound together with rope. Hoping that his hind legs were untied, he moved them too. But was disappointed to find them bound down.

Giving up, he took this opportunity to look over his surroundings.

It was dark, all he could see was a single light dangling from the ceiling, and a row of chairs in front of him. 

It was quite, no activity at all until he heard hoofsteps. As the hoofsteps got closer, he was shocked and horrified to see Smoke Bomb walk up to Bright. He whispered something inaudible and got into a straight standing position. He then said, in a chilling echoed voice,

“Bright Justice. Electricity shall now be passed through your body until you’re dead. May Celestia have mercy on your soul.” 

As he finished up his chilling sentence. Another stallion walked up to Bright carrying a wet sponge in one hoof, and a black hood with a part of the top cut out. As the stallion got closer, Bright was able to get a good look at the stallion. 

It was Cloudy.

Bright tried calling out for Cloudy to tell him what was going on, but he was unable to talk.

He tried to talk but was halted by the black hood that went over his head, taking away his sight. He then felt the damp sponge be placed on his head. The only place the hood didn’t cover. Then a cold, metal bowl like object be placed atop the wet sponge and his head. 

After the metal bowl was secure, some time passed before Smoke said one more thing.

“Roll on two!” 

A surge of energy began to surge through Bright’s body as his head began to spasm. After some time, Bright felt himself go limp. He then heard whispering. The whispering of Smoke that said,

“Je vous ai dit que vous auriez à brûler”


~***~


Bright shot up into a sitting position. His head forehead was sweaty and his mane was damp with sweat. He was breathing heavily and he was wide eyed. 

‘What am I getting into!?’ Bright thought to himself. His head snapped to his workbench where the blueprints, the schedule, and a small alarm clock sat.

He looked at the clock to learn that it was going on 4 AM. Just an hour until he had to clock in for work. As he rushed to get ready for guard duty his mind also raced for any ideas to save Hivie till at the last minute inspiration buck him in the face, warping his mind around the idea an mad smile grace his muzzle, ''This......just might work after all.'' 




An hour later in the locker rooms

''..............any questions Cloudy '' whispered Bright in an very shush tone, one of his ears laid back listening out for the other guardponies despite them beaning alone 

''T-tha-at's i-i-i-it '' whispered the red Pegasus colt nervously '' that's your plan...........no Bright, it's-it's too risky what will happen if-

''Cloud'' said Bright shoving an hoof into Cloudy mouth shunting the red pegasus up ''Listen to me Cloudy the only thing bad that would happen would be Hivie going six feet under if we fail to save her from this place, anything else would help us make the escape....Bright then removes his hoof from Cloudy's muzzle his face morph into one of desperation and need .......it's our job to keep innocence safe right?.... so will you help me in this my friend?''

Try as he might Cloudy just couldn't say no may be it his own consensus and/or the fear of letting his only friend down gulping hard he said yes of course this helps Bright's look of desperation resort back to normal plus an smile on his friends lips, the first smile he had seen since Hivie was brought in. The dark blue muscular stallion pulled the smaller red colt into an sudden gentle embrace whispering thank you into his ears. The hug ended as soon it began with the two stallions separating coughing to clear their throats mentally vowing to never to speak of the strangely nice hug again.

''Okay with then that over'' said Bright awkwardly before changing the subject ''Let's go over the plan once more before we go though with it''

"I may not like the plan but I can improve upon it'' said Cloudy before whispering into his friend's ear with each word Bright's smile widens like a foal on hearts warming day. He should've known that Cloudy should of been the one to come up with the plan while his plan was already good, yet according to what cloudy was saying he evidently left out a lot of the details. Once Cloudy finished his improvements the red colt asked ''Did you get all that Bright?''

''Yeah I did Cloud'' replied Bright with a nod

''D-do you-you understand what to do'' said Cloudy nervously his glasses fogging up due to his nervous ''You do realize once we do this there's no coming back everything we ever work for......our very dreams will be lost if we save Hivie''

''Yes'' said the muscular stallion giving Cloudy a leveled look ''I'd rather give up being a royal guard to save Hivie than knowing that I was willing let somepony die a death they don't deserve.....you and me both know that either of us can't live with that guilt''

Cloudy shakes his head agreeing with his friend's assessment ''See you in an hour''

''See you in an hour '' smirked Bright turning away from the crimson colt his sky-blue and white mane dangling down the back of his neck leaving the locker room to play his part of the plan. After watching Bright left Cloudy as he brushed his light brown mane out of his eyes, idling, wondering of what he had gotten himself into but Bright did have a point, the both of them couldn't live with knowing that they let Hivie die. Even if it went against Celestia's wishes they swore an oath to protect all who dwell in Equestria that included the Changeling Hivie as well. ''I hope that plan works Bright I really do'' as Cloudy began to leave to do his own part ''cause we're living on an prayer''


> Blueprints part two 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In one part of the prison

As Bright walked down the dank corridor a slight feeling of trepidation taunts the dark blue stallion with images of what could go wrong, spanning from visions of failure to Hivie's execution date being moved earlier. Quickly as he could he shakes such nonsense from his head,

''The plan will work'' he sternly reminded himself mentally ''we will save her.'' Beating down his fear of failing Hivie silently Bright sneak into the dungeon's lunchroom where the on duty guards would make their meals. A smile graced Bright's lips at the sight of the relatively empty room, he could hear the sounds of coffee being made in the brand new magical coffee maker, like a ghost he made his way passed tables and chairs to the said coffee marker and opened the pot lid with a wing. Carefully slipping in the sleeping potion; he gotten from Dusky's locker, into the brew. As the last drops of the powder potion mixed with brew, Bright's ears perked up at the sound of incoming hooves. Acting quickly he naturally pour himself an cup.

''Morning comrade'' greeted an gray furred guard, the nauseating sound of cracking joints reached Bright's ears, followed by satisfied moan of pleasure from the guard.  

''Morning'' Bright naturally replies with half smile while forcing his muzzle from turning green.

''Is the coffee any good?'' asked the gray stallion ''I hear it's an new brand, the last time we had an new brand it destroyed all the guards stomachs. I think that some of those older inmate never forgotten that foul smell hen.......I remember that day just like my ex-wife's plot they both smelled like something died and was left out in the desert sun with a hint of rotten eggs mixed with Diamond dog piss ''

''It's good for what it's worth but somepony forgotten the doughnuts again'' said Bright turning to leave the room both in attempt to start the next phase of the plan and to save his stomach he had heard the horror stories about the 'Batpony coffee' from Dusky. It wasn't a petty sight when all the restrooms in the prison were still stained green and brown. After five years of bleach and scented candles they never found out where that coffee came from minus the picture of a skimpy clothed Batpony mare.

''AWWWW not again I told the major that we need an doughnut colt to get us our godly doughnuts '' lament the gray pony his voice cracking. With a sigh he continued. "At least we have good coffee.''

Bight grew an evil smile on his muzzle as he left the room the musical sound of pouring coffee filling his ears,

''Eeyup at least we do have that'' he calls back to the gray pony ''that was the easy part, it's time to meet up with Cloudy but first I need to clean my ears I had almost forgotten about the 'Batpony Coffee'

In another part of the prison

For the thousandth time Cloudy forced himself down.

''Come on Cloud take it already!'' He scolded himself yet his hoof refused to move frozen by his nervousness.

''Dammit Cloud what is so hard about stealing an bucking key''. The red colt sighed solemnly at his inability to a such simple but very important job if the the plan was too work it needs the master key to the cells, the colt had to keep an look out for his follow guards if they caught him in this room the plan will be over long before it started. The room itself is off limits to lower ranks like him only the high ranking guards and the Princesses were allowed in. Cloudy easily by passed the other guards only because they believed the out dated security measures would make impossible to get out the dungeon. But they never thought of the possibility of an inside pony.

''Bright and Hivie are counting on you Cloud, stallion up for once in your life'' the red colt challenge himself this time his hoof silently took the old key placing it under his wing.

''That was close'' said the red colt as he wiped sweat off his fore head with a hoof. Once he was sure the cost were clear he quickly slipped out of the room into the dark corridor acting natural with a number of prepared excuses on what was he doing on this side of the dungeon if he should meet any other guards on his way to met up with Bright.

'Hopefully everything goes according to plan we only got one chance to get it right if we blow it, well Hivie is going to have company with her at the end...' Thought Cloudy as he turned a corner stepping onto the pathway that he 'should've' been on the first place according to the patrol schedule.

'Hivie, I hope you know just what we are risking to save you' the red colt thought to himself, his nerves coming back with an vengeance,

''once we do this there no coming back......I hope Bright had plan on just what we going to done after we get you out of here........I really do''

In the cell block

When Hivie opened her pupil-less eyes she immediately notice something was off about the warmhearted prison today. But she just couldn't place her hoof on what was different. The noise of the other inmates was there despite that fact that they were asleep, the stale smell of yesterday's business emanated from the far from stranded waste depositories giving the cell a foul odor, the rarely passing sneering guards made their rounds... guards?

The memory of two Pegasus guards enter her mind, Bright and Cloudy, she smiles at the familiar vision of the dark blue and red stallions ever since she was brought to this place the two guardponies had been kind to her an changeling no less, in the matter of only two days since the gray pony attacked and dragged her to sunbutt, the two kind guards had became her closest friends within the prison. The dark blue stallion Bright justice was the first pony she knew to actually care for her, one didn't need the empathetic abilities to see how much Bright truly cared for her or how strongly he hated the fact that she was placed for execution.

The red colt Cloudy Steel, as nervous as he is, he also shared many of the same feelings that Bright held just in an different way.

With that thought, she had realized what was off today. Neither Bright nor Cloudy had visited her, one or the other would often stop by her cell when they had the chance to chat or remind her that they'll will free her. The visits were the only thing Hivie could find comfort in even though she knew that never be the case, Celestia wanted her dead and ponies would happily do anything to appease the Alicorn Bright and Cloudy will never get the-

Her thorn ears picks up on the sound of cell doors opening and the cries of rudely awaken inmates who then cry out once again in joy. The sound of thundering hooves echoing in the drank hallways and corridors.

"Something big is happening." The changeling told herself. "But what?"


>  Jailbreak! 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outside the cells

After being reminded about the 'Batpony coffee' Bright met up with a nervous Cloudy just outside the cell block, their follow guards haven't suspected a thing. The dark blue stallion deduced that their so far success had been only luck and the other guard's disbelief in that fact the dungeons are outdated and the idea that no pony would turn traitor in Canterlot of all places.

''Psst Cloudy,'' he whispered while keeping a look out for the other guards. ''Do you got the goods?''

''Gah! not so loud Bright are you trying to get us caught! '' whispered Cloudy sternly despite his nervous twitch. ''Yes I have the goods but have you taken care of the coffee yet?''

''It been taken care of'' Bright whispered back. ''You're ready for the next phase?''

Cloudy sighs ''Ready as I'll ever be Bright...'' Bright nods in understanding Cloudy was never the bravest pegasus out of the two yet while himself was the brave one, Cloudy was always the smart one. Without further words needed the two pegasi walked calmly into the depths of the cell block forever sealing their fate by opening the door of first cell they passed releasing the scum of the Equestrian empire, out of the shadows of the cell a green unicorn with a knife for a cutie mark steps in the torch light, he gives the two Ex- guards a predatory insane grin before silently thanking them for new freedom. The unicorn stallion quickly disappears in the gloom of the dungeons. Cloudy still shivering fearfully from that crazed smile opens another cell this time the inmate didn't show themselves a loud snore rattles the cell bars the red colt nervously looks to his partner with a small whimper as if to tell him there no way he'll would go in there.

With a sigh Bright enters the cell eying the sleeping pale mare with a dragon tattoo on the side of her face once he amuse that he was far enough in the cell to escape, he quickly smacks the sleeping mare's flank as soon the hoof meet the clearly feminine rump Bright flew out of that cell like he had wings on his hooves followed by a very pissed earth pony murderess screaming pervert at the top of her lungs. As Bright galloped for his life with the mare on his tail, Cloudy struggling to keep from laughing at his friend's predicament went to open to the next cell.




Hivie's cell

 Hivie's pov

Nervously I paced in my cell, worry filling my heart worry for my friends.

'No I am a Changeling for Chrysalis sake! I shouldn't worry for Celestia's ponies they never helped us then why should I worry for some Chrysalis damned ponies!'

'Because those two guards Bright and Cloudy are your friends that why you worry, it's not for the other ponies but for it's them.' Said both my mind and heart in council.

I bite my lip at the words my mind used, one part of me was right I'm only worried for my friends yet out of the corner of my eye I see a green unicorn with a crazed grin leaning up against the bars of my cell

''What do you want Blade Edge?'' I asked in disgust for the unicorn I had the story from the other inmates about the green unicorn, the word was that he killed and ate his own wife and two fillies after he was replaced as the royal blacksmith by a younger colt named Tree Cutter. He too was killed before the guard finally caught him.

''Besides wanting a taste of you? Ms. Tak' Mashar?'' Said the stallion licking his flat teeth at the thought of getting a taste of Changeling flesh "I figure that you would want to know that your coltfriend and the red bitch as been very naughty little colts....very naughty indeed.''

''What!?...I don't have a boyfriend!'' I said indignantly. ''What are you going on about Blade?''

''Heh heh I don't know about that one Ms.Tak' Mashar...'' teased Blade Edge before his grin fades into an serious glare. ''But you friends dead meat that I do know for sure.''

At Blade's glare I found myself retreating into the shadows of the room, with a gulp I quickly put a stop to that I am Changeling ponies are supposed to fear me! Not the other way around ''What make you say that Blade? Are they in trouble?"

''Trouble?'' Blinked the green stallion ''Honey, trouble is the least of their worries... Now that I think about it, why haven't you asked me why I'm not in the pin yet?''  

I blush at my obliviousness to the fact he was right I haven't question that fact he was free but that blush falls away as realization hits me. Bright

"They let you out, didn't they?''

''Indeed my dear.'' Said Blade with his crazed grin in return ''Indeed your boyfriend and his red he-bitch are opening the cells as we speak, but it's funny why would two guards would risk their lives and Celestia's wrath by freeing a brunch of 'deadponies'. Would you have anything to do with that Ms. Tak' Mashar? After all they did spend a lot of time with you.''

I don't give the insane pony an answer. I couldn't really, the worry for my friends overwhelmed my remaining senses as images of what could happen fill my head everything from them joining me at the executioners ax to Celestia's grinning muzzle as she placed memory charms and them forcing them to forget me before ordering them to kill me. But there was a small warmth in my heart at that fact they were willing to sacrificed everything thing they ever known for me. A Changeling.

I truly had no words for such nobility, I soon found a blush upon my face.

''Hmmm, I take your silence as a yes'' giggled the mad unicorn. ''You have my thanks then. Tell your friends that Blade Edge the Cannibal wishes them luck. Now if you would excuse me I think that pink night guard sleeping over yonder is calling my name''

I remain silent as the green unicorn disappears back in the gloom with Blade's words my mind had cease with the images of death but they were place with others. Each one different then the last yet the last of these images was a smiling dark blue pegasus stallion whispering into my ear

''I told you that I'd free you Hivie.''

I felt a smile grace my lips at the words ''Yes you did Bright.''




In the cell block

 Bright's pov

After getting away from the sole murderess in the dungeon Cloudy and me continued with freeing the many murders and other criminals. Freeing them was my least favorite part of the plan. Unlike Hivie they weren't innocent many of them were guilty of numerous crimes while Cloudy had assured me that they were only being released to keep any guards off of our tails so we could escape Canterlot with Hivie. I still felt some of my guard teachings trying to derail the plan but I quickly reminded myself that we were doing this to protect an innocent from the executioner's axe.

Each of the newly freed inmates quickly faded in the the dark of the gloom no doubt seeking certain guards for pay back or looking for the way out of the dungeons they aren't going to get too far if they do leave the dungeon by the main doors where elite guards with gryphon styled bows waited as the last line of deference if a escapee did have an army backing them.

''Cloudy.'' I said calling for the red colt as we approach the cell holding another nameless murder, ''I believe that we have enough freed ex-inmates to hold up the guards for days. Let's free Hivie and get outta here!''

''O-okay Bright t-this is the last one before we get Hivie'' said Cloudy with his nerves starting to get to him again '' w-w-we s-should have e-enough k-k-k-killers, r-r-rapist and thieves running a-about.''  

''Yeah.'' I said with a frown we had freed exactly thirty five inmates representing almost all of the races on the equestrian continent ponies of each tribe; gryphons; diamond dogs; the sole Minotaur in Canterlot, Centaurs, and Donkeys. Lucky we didn't come across a dragon. Yet I couldn't help to wonder why the Canterlot dungeon held such a collection of species, what have they done to deserve to be in the dungeon in the first place? Buck many of them couldn't even speak Equish! Just what is going on in the empire, that we are imprisoning citizens from other nations? Had Celestia gone mad if the other leaders knew that we had their citizens in an Equestrian prison, the long peace we had enjoyed would be destroy in the fires of war.

Skipping the next few sleeping inmates we made our way to Hivie's cell yet we had to be careful and watch the gloom for the escapees despite my wondering about them and why their were here, many of them were still killers that could turn on us. once we came to Hivie's cell to our surprise she wasn't asleep but she was waiting for us with a blush on her face.

'Hm, now I think about it she's very cute when she's blushing.'

''Bright! Cloudy! Oh I've been so worried about you! Blade Edge told me everything on what's going on in the prison.'' said Hivie in a worried tone. ''He told me what you were risking to help me.''

''It doesn't matter what we're risking Hivie, I told you that I would free you and I meant it!'' I said while opening the cell door while Cloudy was watching my back. Just in case

''But-'' Hivie attempted to say with her blush burning a bit brighter.

''N-n-no flank, Hivie i-i-it dosent matter what we're r--risking w-we could never live with o-ourselves if we left you h-here!'' said Cloudy keeping his watch on the dungeon's gloom. ''Besides your our f-friend.''

''Really you really think of me as a friend?'' asked Hivie hopefully with tears threatening the corner of her eyes.

''Of Course you are Hivie ''I said as the lock on the door sounded off with a click, opening the door I was tacked to the ground by an emotional Changeling mare hugging me tightly with a tear falling down on her face.

''Thankyouthankyouthankyou'' she joyfully repeats as I attempted to breath ''Thank you for being my friends''

''Hivie, let him breath mare'' said Cloudy taking his eyes off the gloom. At his words Hivie's blush burn like the sun with embarrassment as she instantly let go of my neck finally allowing me to breath.

The sound of a alarm echos in the deep of the dungeon.

''Buck'' I swore as scramble to my hooves ''Nopony said anything about an delayed alarm!''




Cloudy's pov

Pure panic dominated my being. No, no, no, no, NO! there shouldn't have been an delayed alarm! That wasn't in the blueprints!. This unfortunate development completely ruined my prefect plan to get Hivie to safety! The alarm surly would attract the rest of the guards reinforcing the all ready down guardponies. While the freed inmates could buy us some time to escape yet our escape time have been drastically cut into little bitty pieces by that alarm. In my heart I began to doubt that we could even escape now the main exits would been blocked by the reinforcing guards destroying my plan once again. Suddenly an idea came to me, the sewers! We can use the sewers to escape according to both the blueprints and construction ponies just below the dungeon is Canterlot's five hundred year old sewage line that is fortunately closed off from use, the construction ponies had been sent by Celestia in the hopes that the old line could be used to expand the dungeons..... right now they're going to serve the purpose of our escape route, they are our last hope.

''B-bright, H-hivie!'' I nervously called, getting the attention of the my fellow Pegasus and the Changeling mare. ''We need t-to h-hurry that alarm had alerted t-the rest of the g-guards but I may know a-a way out of h-here!''

''Why was there a delayed alarm in the dungeons Cloudy?'' asked Bright brandishing his wing blades prepared to fight our once fellow guards before I could give life to my answer Hivie answers Bright's question instead.  

''Because Celestia wants me and all Changelings dead'' said Hivie taking the keys from Bright to undo the horn lock on her horn, ''I wouldn't pass her to have set an trap just in case my kind attempted a rescue....''

''And we just set it off.'' Finished Bright grimly. The sound of armor hooves echo in the gloom of the dungeon

''B-buck'' I swore this is bad the guards were already in the dungeons. ''Bright do you remember about those old sewers not far from here?''

''Yes what about-'' said Bright before a look of realization graced his face. ''Cloudy your a genius!''

''Sewers? what are Sewers?'' Hivie innocently asked with a discarded horn lock in her hoof.

''Never mind what they are Hivie, '' said Bright with his ear alarmed to the echoing thunder of hooves ''The only thing that matter about them is that our way out of here.''

''I remember where they are! Follow me!" I said taking to flight most of the dungeon halls were wide enough for pegasi and certainly Changelings to silently fly, the dungeons themselves were of Pre-Discordian Era design, where the royal guard were majorly made up of pegasi war flocks and were supported by Unicorn battle mages, they were designed by nature to allow pegasi to easily fly cutting the need to patrol in half. Yet even though I say anything to my friend about the sinking feeling in my wing and the fact that in my heart I was desperately hopping that I wasn't leading my friends to their deaths.

~***~

In the dark of the gloom was a unit of guards marching shoulder to shoulder, their royal stranded golden armor a shiny contrast to the inky blackness of the dungeon, unlike the escapees the armor hid them poorly letting the more cowardly former inmates to easily run away long before the unicorn battle mages came in range to use their magic to detain them. Yet despite the echoing thunder of their armored hooves the dungeon remained rather silent, with a motion of his hoof Dusky silently orders the unit to cease all motion. The maroon pegasus narrowed his eyes as his ear picked a familiar sound. Yet inwardly the older stallion felt cheated with the numbers of his unit, at least 60% of the prison guards were oddly misplaced but he did not show the others his disgust that the missing guards were putting a blemish on his record almost ruining his chances at a promotion, He resented that fact and more because with the misplacement of the more useful guards he had to rely on the younger and untrained children of the equally useless nobles who only joined the guard for a free ride or out of tradition.  

tsk eek tsk creek tsk squish

At the very familiar sounds his muzzle morphs in an sneer,

''Guards at the ready!'' he bellowed. The guards quickly reform into ranks standing shoulder to shoulder, their armor bodies fully block off the hallway in a living blockaded of gold, muscle and magic with Dusky at the heard scanning into the dark of the gloom waiting for moment as the sound got closer. The ever stoic guards ignored the wet fleshy sounds relying on their strict training to see them though yet for some of the younger guards the sounds were unnerving but they dare not show that emotion to their older comrades in fear of what their fellow guards could do to them afterwards.

eek tsk squish tsk squish

Soon out of the gloom a single green hoof oozing with red stepped into the light of the guards torches, the sound of the wet smack of a body hitting the stone floor cruelly assaulted the young guards, yet their training and fear of the other guards held them in place. A pool of red quickly surrounded the alone hoof till the pony step into the light fully, Dusky instantly recognized the green blood covered unicorn as Blade Edge the Cannibal his greatest capture in his entire career as a royal guard, he had spent two long months in capturing the crazed unicorn setting a new record of capture time in the process yet he wasn't surprise to see the Cannibal again, when an inmate does manage to leave their cell they always make their way to the guard who had put them there in the first place. But that is according to the records in the royal archives, in truth that statement was false minus certain expectations like Blade Edge.

''Ah greetings my good ponies fancy meeting you in such a gloomy place.'' The crazed unicorn cackled with blood dripping from his muzzle.

''Return to your cell Blade Edge and I may convince the Princesses to extend your due date!'' Ordered Dusky.

''I'm sorry Mr. Trails but with all good intentions I can not do that until I finish my dinner!'' Giggled Blade Edge ''But if you would take my suggestion though I know you won't, but never the less you should run away like the little foals you all are after all 'tis time that you stop playing soldier.''

''Alright I had enough of this insane nut'' Shouted Dusky ''Ponies prepare to take him down!''

The unicorn smiled at Dusky's word '' I was hoping you would say that. Gentleponies! Dinner Time!" Once those words left the insane stallion's mouth, his fellow cannibalistic inmates charged from behind him towards Dusky and his small army.
> A Mile of History
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sound of hooves splashing into the shallow but contaminated water echoed through the dingy sewers of Canterlot. The ladder which leads down to that inhospitable place was rusty and slick due the years of exposure and without any kind of proper maintenance. 

It would be better if they just jumped but the fall was considerable enough that they could possibly get broken bones, so they used the stairs with extreme care.

One by one they descended into the darkness and as soon as Cloudy then Bright went down, the trio had finally ended up in the sewers. The environment felt cold and menacing to some extent, however that didn’t prevent Cloudy from frantically wiping out all those disgusting substances from his hooves, but that was totally a waste of time since they were in the sewers the most feculent place to be; realization that soon hit him when the putrid smells finally assaulted his nostrils without mercy causing Bright to gag while his stomach tried its best to hold.

The smell from there could be compared to a rotting corpse, thought probably there were rats’ corpses there which are floating around in those disgusting torrents of water. Hivie however, seemed to be completely unaffected by the smells surrounding her and her companions.

“Hivie, can’t you smell…that?” Bright asked as he desperately tried to block the entrance from the putrefaction.

“I can smell it, but we’ve grown used to the foul odors since is very common in our homeland.” Hivie explained while she looked around, but didn’t get see much since it was dark.

“Great, so we’ll be around pig crap when we arrive to the Badlands then, right?” Cloudy said showing how grumpy he currently was.

“I cannot say for certain; but if that is your best comparison then yes.” Hivie said still unsure about the smell comparison to her home.

Cloudy replied with a knowingly sigh.

“Maybe we should start walking. I know for certain that the city’s sewer systems are immense, so it will take us a lot of time until we find an exit.” Bright said as he took the lead venturing into the darkness.

Hivie and Cloudy followed suit.

Every step the trio took was squishy…

Like walking in the mud…

But is not mud what is below them…

By natural reaction, Bright and Cloudy were extremely disgusted by the mushy feeling beneath their hooves.

But to their unwanted surprise Hivie seemed perfectly fine with it, in other words the Badlands was going to be even worse than this place.
As they ventured through the seemingly endless tunnels, the smell became stronger and stronger so the ponies opted to breath through their mouths rather than their nose, hopefully they will not get the taste by accident of this pigsty. The darkness became too depth to be able to see through it so an illumination spell was casted to they could keep moving.

Fifteen minutes passed, but for them it felt like hours.

“GAH!” A yelp was heard from behind

Bright and Hivie swiftly turned back in search of the source of the sound as they became ready to attack or defend themselves. However, they noticed that being prepared to face battle was in vain since the one responsible of that sound was Cloudy who had just been spooked by a rat which crawled passed between his legs very fast.

“What? Rats carry diseases and are creepy! Just look at those eyes” Cloudy argued as he signaled to the rat behind him with his right hooves, Hivie and Bright rolled their eyes as they looked to the direction he signaled and saw two small red orbs.

Cloudy was right, those eyes gave creeps to their spines.

However the time couldn’t be wasted like this, giving an annoyed expression to Cloudy made him realize that his behavior wasn’t the appropriate for the current situation.

Cloudy sheepishly smiled in embarrassment.

Once again, they resumed their journey through the sewers however it didn’t last long; Hivie slipped and fell to the murky water; her companions noticed and immediately went to her aid.

“Hivie, what happened?” Bright asked, sounding alarmed.

Hivie grumbled as she slowly got up from where she fell.

“I slipped…” Hivie then grabbed and brought up the responsible of her fall. “I suppose it was this poster.” She said as she held up the half rotted and damp poster, her companions backed away since it was soaked in served waters. At first, Bright simply shrugged it off as normal garbage, but his eye caught something very odd. If it wasn’t for the illumination he couldn’t have noticed it before but since that’s not the case he saw it.
The ragged poster had two outstanding symbols which could be identified anywhere, the hammer and the sickle together. Bright chuckled to himself, instantly knowing where this was from.

“What is it Bright?” Cloudy asked as he made his way where Bright stood. Cloudy instantly gasped when he found out what Bright was looking.

“That’s a war poster Bright!”

“A Communist’s war poster no less!” Cloudy exclaimed in some kind of excitement. While he did so, Bright remained amused by the fact that they found a rarity in the less expected place however the excitement wasn’t shared, Hivie stood on her place with an horrified look on her face.

“Do you mean the Communist war between Equestria, Diamond Dogs, Gryphons and… Changelings?” She asked despite she knew the answer, she couldn’t believe at the moment.

“You bet!” Aftermath Cloudy realized that this was a touchy subject for her; judging by her change of mood. “Er, sorry Hivie. I didn’t mean to offend you… I-I just, got excited… That’s all.”

“Its fine”

“Why? How could he have offended you Hivie? I mean, I know the Changelings were involved with the war but… It couldn’t have been that bad.” Bright tried to comfort his changeling friend as he spoke.

“I wouldn’t be that sure Bright…” Cloudy stated.

“What do you mean Cloudy?” Bright asked as his eyebrow rose.

“Well… to sum it up, the Changelings and the Southern Diamond Dogs were the most affected. The Equestrians were too, but not as bad. Since it was one strong army and half a very strong army against two strong armies and the other half of a strong army, it wasn’t the best beginning. Hell, the Equestrians had to retreat in the end because we’ve lost too many lives, and we weren’t used to the Diamond Dog’s territory. Or the insects they had, if might I add, almost every soldier in every camp got fleas.”

Bright cringed at the news as he listened, because fleas were the most annoying insect and also dangerous since a certain type could bring diseases. Once again an story for another time.

By now the trio had already resumed their walking, but the environment felt less alive since Hivie didn’t talk much to them, there were two possibilities to explain this behavior; she was only being polite to them or she was upset of what Cloudy said.

“Yeah… anyway, near the end of the war the Equestrians had to retreat, leaving the Southern Dogs by themselves against the Northern armies.” And with that said Cloudy finished the summary.

“But how were the Changelings affected?” Bright inquired since the summary that he was given didn’t say a thing about them.
“Oh….I can’t say for sure buddy…” Cloudy replied but not answering to his friend question, however Bright got the answer which he was seeking thanks to his changeling companion.

“Because the Changeling society was already falling apart, my kind was running low on resources and the economy was falling apart at fast and steady pace.” She clarified with a sigh filled with sadness. “That war sent us over the edge.”

“But I thought you all had your own currency.” He was slightly confused at this clarification “ What happened?”

“Inflation.” She looked straight at him “We just had so many shells to the point that they became useless…” The changeling informed.

“Excuse me, ‘Shells’?” Cloudy entered at the conversation.

“Yes, as odd as it sounds, we use, or well…used snail shells as our currency, just as Equestria uses bits, we also used very specific pebbles with certain special characteristics which had more value; just as yours gemstones.” Hivie continued with her economy explanation.

“Let me get this straight, so the shells were so common that they became useless?” Bright asked for confirmation.

“Exactly. We still have our own type of currency, but now we only use pebbles, and since the pebbles as way of payment, and since there isn’t a lot of money we only use them as last resort of payment. Now we use the trade system as our main way to payment, is beneficial in some way.

“That sure helps us to understand a few things.” Bright stated.

“Very much so, but like the red one here said; there are other reasons of why my home is a ‘shit hole’; if that is how you use the term. We a vast part of the army as well good citizens in the war, and like I stated before, we didn’t possess a lot of resources. We still don’t, but it isn’t as bad as before hopefully.” She finished her explanation.

“Oh, well… I’m sorry about that.” Bright said trying to sound apologetic.

“Oh don’t be. That was like fifty years ago, I wasn’t even hatched yet so I wasn’t affected directly. So, it’s none of my concern.” She said nonchalantly.
“But it affected the elders who’ve survived the war, doesn’t it?” Cloudy said hiding his disapproval of how indifferent she was.

“Yes but, the survivors can be counted easily they don’t even fill a room, it almost doesn’t matter.” Hivie became less and less alive, the words that were coming out of her mouth sounded so dry, so uncaring.

“Doesn’t matter? Hivie, veterans should be appraised or honored for their bravery and what they sacrificed for defending their nation.” Now he felt offended, disrespecting veterans was frowned upon.

“We are very different from you, Bright alright? We don’t celebrate or ‘appraise’ our veterans unless the war is won. If the war was lost, then they aren’t heroes; they are just treated like any other civilian. Like they didn’t serve for the cause in the first place.” Hivie said solemnly while they continued their long journey.

The environment around them was cold, both physical and psychological; the responsible was the previous conversation and clash of cultural differences. While Cloudy was still pondering about the communist war, Bright was still amazed about how Changelings treat their soldiers. It just seemed wrong, in every way possible. But, it also made some kind of sense, in a twisted way.

They forgot the track of time, they only cared about the time again when they noticed the walls of their surroundings were different, they looked older as cracks fill the stoned walls and the fungus reached sizes that wouldn’t be seen at the surface and for good reasons; nobody would like that to be seen by the public eye.

But as they kept walking the noticed several objects scattered, laying on the pavement or just floating in the served waters.

At first the group didn't have the intention to touch any of them since all of those objects were covered by the disgusting layer of biological waste and stain even more their hooves; though that mostly applied for the ponies since Hivie didn’t care much about that fact.

But Bright's eyes locked in an object of his interest, quickly the dark blue pegasus left Hivie's and Cloudy’s side and galloped, or tried to gallop through the green torrents, his fur became stained by the rotted substance however he didn’t care; something was more important than his personal hygiene. By the time Hivie and Cloudy managed to catch up with their friend, he was already sitting on his haunches holding a rusty spear while whispering ancient pegasus tribe prayers to the gods in the sky.

''Is that....'' said Cloudy aloud while Hivie cocked her head in confusion since she didn’t know the importance of that spear for a Pegasus.

Only after he finished with his prayer, did he talk to his friend. ''Yes it is, cloudy it's an pegasus spear from Equestria's Third Era, the age of empires, forged by The House of Justice for Celestia's quest to fulfill the ancient High King Hurricane Equestria's first and only pegasus ruler's dream of creating a empire where ponykind could live in peace, his direct descent Princess Celestia spent over two hundred years after Princess Luna's banishment contently warring against enemies of ponykind Bat ponies; Minotaurs; Zebras; Hellhounds; Sirens; Centaurs and many others lost to history. In the end she craved the Equestrian Empire we know today with a bloody hoof. '' Bright relevantly placed the spear back down where it was found and it floated away aftermath. ''But it's strange to find an eight hundred year old relic in the sewers, even more why a weapon made by my family centuries ago is down here?''

'' That’s a tough one, let’s stick that it came here by accident. '' Cloudy then placed his right hoof on Bright's shoulder giving him comfort.
Bright needed the comfort after seeing his legacy wasted nothing more than trash.

''Bright, I didn't knew that your family used to forge weapons. '' Hivie also gave her comfort to her friend, making him give a faint smile.

'' Well, my family haven't touch their forges over a hundred years, now days Pegasi prefer to race or work in the weather arts, besides return to the old ways is difficult; you can’t be considered proper Justice unless you know how to work in a forge and craft a single type of weapon.'' Bright was sad.

Hivie as she heard his explanation she picked up a shiny object which after some cleaning resulted to be a gold coin, the coin itself had a form of a mismatch creature it warped around three ponies protectively with the words In chaos there is peace under the odd creature. Bright didn’t go unnoticed by this ''A royal crown coin from Equestria's First Era or also called the rule of the mad king Discord; fallen hero of the old pony kingdom. The story tells that after the war of the Theastrals, ponykind was nearly drove to extinction by dragons and all manner of creatures to punish us for the Noble’s houses wicked ways and teachings, so Discord; the God of Chaos, in his own way took pity on the ponies and with a single snap of his paw he claimed the leadership of the ponies and with a simple action he saved the three tribes from an assured death.''

Hivie visibly shivered, Discord was a subject to do not take lightly '' E-even in the badlands that name is known and more feared than Celestia's, you can predict her punishment but with Discord.....it was like jumping off a cliff blindfolded, you just didn’t know what will happen. But what do you mean with about the war with the Theastrals?''

Before another story could be tell Bright abruptly stood up cutting him from continue the history lessons. ''Come on, we wasted enough time mourning about the past, Celestia's guards could finds us at any moment.'' Hivie and Cloudy realized their mistake and immediately resumed their journey with haste.

The time passed.

The group felt tired of the constant movement without rest since they held the belief that the guards were near their position.

But to their utter relief the light at the end of the tunnels was ahead and the distance was getting shorter every second, it was the last effort.
The friends forgot about their exhaustion and galloped.

But what they didn’t expect was that behind the curtain of light was a cliff, but a very small cliff which at the bottom is a lake depth enough to soften their fall.

Actually they were glad of this surprise; it was a refreshment of what they had to endure for hours, as the personal feeling of satisfaction returned to them; they swam to the coast where they shook their dampened coat of fur but for Hivie she tried to dry her insect-like wings.

A small migraine assaulted her, she had used too much of what was left of her reserves, and love was difficult to gather she only could hope to find another source soon or she will be unable to use magic.

The Pegasus whistled when he looked at the night sky.

But he was interrupted by his friend who nudged him to keep walking, and leave behind the proud city of Canterlot and Equestria.
> Changes unedited 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The trio of friends walked thought out the night sticking to the shadows as much as they could with ears alert for the sound of wing beats and the jiggle of armor. Alas what they had sacrificed for saving Hivie would count for nothing for as long they remained in Equestria Celestia and her guards would forever hunt them, setting their heavy hearts for betraying their home and breaking their oaths behind them Bright and Cloudy led the changeling mare to the nearby Everfree forest the one place in all of empire where they could linger for an time without fear of Celestia's ponies. The Badlands would only days away by train, hoof and wing couldn't led them there in preferable time no it would take weeks if they had to travel on wing and hoof. The closest train was the friendship express in the small town of Ponyville yet that town especially would tricky to enter for Celestia's spys were everywhere and the town was home to her personal student Twilight Sparkle the perhaps strongest mage in the whole empire outside of Celestia and her younger sister Luna. Bright and Cloudly didn't knew much about the lavender pony outside that fact she treated the word of Celestia like the command of an god, this notion told the two pegasi everything they needed to know if Twilight saw them then Celestia herself will come for them.   

'' Hivie how much magic you have left'' asked Cloudy while Bright attempted to start an very much needed fire, the plunge in the lake may had cleansed them for the stink and filth of the sewers but the night was cold one if they remain soaked to the bone they may catch their deaths.

'' My reserves are extremely low, pretty soon I will need to locate an source of love or risk my life source being used as fuel for my magic'' said Hivie still trying to dry her insect-like wings to the best of her currant ability. ''If that happens...well...''

Bright rises an eyebrow at this '' Hivie what you mean by your life fueling your magic?''

''As you know we Changelings use love both as food source and fuel for our magic but once an changeling is completely of Love energy our magic immediately start using life energy to fuel the spells. We don't know why it happens but our scholars believe that it's an survival method so an changeling would always able to disguise them self.'' Explained Hivie ''Bright how much longer on that fire? my wings feel like they'll about to fall off, Changelings are not meant for the water in our natural forms.''

''Not much longer.........'' Bright tails off in thought ''.........how about me?''

''what about you Bright'' said Hivie cocking her head to the side not understanding what Bright just asked.

''use me as an source of love energy '' Bright words not only caused Hivie's eyes to widen but an poisonous green blush to grace her cheeks, as far she knew never before had any pony willing offered themselves to an changeling. the only time she knew that anypony willing offered to feed a Changeling was often their mate.... a pony offering by their own free will to feed a changeling was again something that never happen. 

''WHAT!?!?!'' Shouts Cloudy before fainting causing his friends to deadpan 

''Is he okay? I mean his doing that a lot perhaps we should take him to see the healer?'' said Hivie in half concern and half annoyance '' I fear that this might cause lasting damage....'' Hivie tailed off when she seen that look in Bright's eyes feeling herself blushing again she casted her eyes to the side in order not meet the blue pegasus in the eye ''Bright? why are you looking at me like that?''

''How about Hivie?'' Bright said finally getting the fire going, it's light giving the two much needed warm in the cold of the night ''use me as food source''  

''A-a-are you s-sure about this Bright? said Hivie her blush threatening to because a permanent mark with how burn her cheeks were burning. the light from both the stars and the fire showed off the dark blue pegasus features such as his handsome looks and his big wings.'' I-I-I... this just doesn't happens....  

''Yes I am, you need to feed and feed soon if we are going to get you home besides'' said Bright with a crooked smile ''how hard could it be?''

''Bright...'' whispered Hivie finally meeting his green eyes she give a audible gulp before give Bright an shaky yet gentle kiss on his lips. The action immediately took Bright by surprise but he couldn't bring himself to break the kiss...it felt right. He returns the kiss to the changeling mare he sacrificed every for just as eagerly, filling the night the sounds of passionate kisses.





Canterlot

''What do you mean it has escaped '' hissed Celestia though gritted teeth her hooves digging deeply into the metal of her throne.

An bloody bite covered Dusky Trails crowded at and his Princess' tone while Smokey wimped like an beaten dog. Only very rarely they had heard of Celestia ever using such an tone, the mere thought of Celestia ever using it was only a mere myth in the guard core yet it seems that just like her sister Luna existence myths are proven to be true.

'' The Changeling escaped during the prison break'' the maroon pegasus said meekly '' we are currently holding an investigation on finding out how it manage to escaped unnoticed.'' 

'' Escaped unnoticed? you mean to tell me that the most secured prison on this entire continent that was designed by myself to be inescapable suffered a prison break so devastated that two of the empire's greatest threats escape? the same prison that entire armies failed to crack? Hivie Tak' Mashar the changeling and Blade Edge the cannibal gentlepony escaped unnoticed! SgtMaj. Dusky, this is a grave failure of duty!'' snarls Celestia angrily the metal of her throne moaned in distress as her hooves crushed the hoofrests. '' You had failed me not once not twice but twelve times in a single day! Must I remind you the consequences of failing your princess! your goddess!''

Bowing until his nose kissed the marbled ground Dusky pleaded to his sun goddess for another chance to prove himself worthy enough to sever the Equestrian Empire to be her tool once again''

''Dusky come'' said Celestia her voice lowered 

''What?'' squeaked dusky both unsure and fearfully, not knowing what had an mind as ancient and powerful as Celestia's had or rather could come up with. Out of one corner of his eye Smokey was actively looking for an escape route forgetting that the room their were in only opens from the inside and each door took teams of ponies to open, the only one that could open the door with ease was Celestia the very mare who glared at them both. 

''Did I stuttered? I said come....come to me'' 

Reluctantly Dusky did as his ruler abide of him, his heart beating like a drum as he closed on the great white mare her eyes never betraying her thoughts or reasoning when he felt that he closed close enough he open his mouth to ask the mare what fore only to feeling slight burning sensations across his body before bursting into flame without a scream.

Smokey watched in horror as the stallion he long sought to steal the position of SgtMaj. burn away in magical fire so quickly he didn't had time to screamed or even smell the scent of burning flesh..... now the stallion thought about he couldn't smell or see any signs a of a fire in the first place the only thing he registered was Celestia's motherly smile. 

'' Dusky Trails was a good servant but he had out grew his usefulness I just couldn't let him go he knew too much, his execution was bound to happen sooner or later. But now since you saw what just happen you only have two opinions one you will be heinously tortured to a very pain death or accepted my offer either way your life as you know it ends today'' said Celestia, the motherly smile she was framed for took a very unnerving and terrifying turn for the young stallion '' painful death or death later on.... your choice''

'' I'll take the offer my Princess '' gulped Smokey  

Celestia's smile grows darker as her horn glows in golden light '' I was hoping that you would say that SgtMaj. Smokey..... we have work to do''

Then the pair disappear in the flash of a teleport. 
>  Darkness 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

POP

The harsh light of the sudden teleportation spill stunned his eyes just as harshly, when newly named SgtMaj. Smokey could see again he found himself in an wide open forest clearing one he didn't recognize though it had little to done with him being an city pony no he wasn't much of an woodspony that was something below his unicorn station but even he knew the dangers of the wood. He took an moment to scan the surrounding forest only founding his goddess like Princess, her white coat an stark contrast to the dark greens of the wood, she was breathing slow and deeply as if enjoying the musky scent of the forest after an heavy rainfall....

Suddenly the sound of wing beats taunted the unicorn yet despite his best efforts he miserably failed in locating exactly where it was coming from in the woods. then an thousand more of the wings beats sang though the air as if informing him that they were surrounded by something.

''Princess w-what's going on?'' asked the unicorn visibly shaking ''w-where are we? why we are here the wood isn't an place for one such as yourself''

''Be silent my little pony... do not speak unless I order you to do so'' said Celestia coldly before giggle hauntingly '' this is an ancient place, one I had visited many times....''

''and you are still not welcome here Half-breed'' hissed an voice in the wood which was followed by what sounded like an legion of agreements and cat calls from some of the more heated voices all of them thrown in the white Alicorn's diction before the first voice sounded off again '' This place is ours, return to your city... we kept our end of the pact you should hold yours!!!''

''WH- '' started Smokey but an quick bone breaking magical punch from Celestia reminded him not to speak unless told too. Tears rolled down his face as he cradle his right foreleg, the one that Celestia struck.

''Ah Midnight Glide I wonder how long it would take you to notice us in the Wing and Claw Clan's territory '' said Celestia. " what took you? I've expected you to show up two minutes and forty five seconds earlier."

" The clan will show when it wants to show." said another voice in the woods. " be sure to remember that half-breed."

At mention of the clan, Smokey gulp heavily in fear, the knowledge of the Wing and Claw Clan was one of the most closely guarded secrets of Equestria just hearing a single crumb about them was enough to throw in the deeps of the dungeons. The Clan is just as old as Equestria itself and very dangerous to the Equestrian way of life, the clan was made of renegade winged supremacists, they believe that any thing born with wings were superior those those that lived on the ground. They were an threat to Equestria's promise of harmony and to unicorns like Smokey, the nature enemy of the unicorn tribe who often and rightfully so protected superiority of the unicorn race in all things. 

Smokey felt like running away yet he knew that if he did then he would be killed either by Celestia's hoof or by the clan. He didn't knew which was worse, he already knew that sooner or later he would be indeed killed just like Dusty was and if he wanted to live then he would have to do everything Celestia asked of him. Thus he stayed quiet despite his seeing of yellow flashing of eyes in the woods surrounding him and Celestia. 

''What brings you here this time? growled who Smokey believed to be the leader of the renegades, Midnight Glide. He had heard of Midnight from the older guards, a truly massive bat pony who stood almost tall as the missing Princess Luna despite not being an Alicorn himself. " you have some nerve to show yourself here after what happen last time, the attempted domestication of your so called sister... we lost an whole company before she disappeared in the wilds and you come here so undefended as well? please forgive if any of us puts a dagger in your back."

"I have a job for the clan" says Celestia darkly "one that is befitting for the clan's many talents."

"A job..." the voice said sounding as if licking their lips " do you have the gold?"  

"Yes, yes I know your price six bags of gold and free reign to 'liberate' foals from their 'vile' parents'' said the solar princess with a completely straight face, not bothered by the fact that she was allowing the clan to kidnap her beloved subjects.  Which left the new SgtMaj. to question the mind of his liege yet he was too much of an coward to say something about it. " but I think you would very much rather have an pony from the house of Justice  " 

slowly ponies and other creatures left the shadows of the woods revealing themselves for the first time since the meeting started, Smokey shiver heavily at the sight of them, they are bigger then any other ponies he had sight before that and before them laid a beaten dragon in chains.  ".... we're listening" said an massive bat pony with Alicorn sized wings. 

"oh yes that's right the clan has a grudge against that family, " said Celestia this time with her motherly smile " after all it was them whom betrayed you to me but that is all ancient history, an couple of my guards who is being lead by one Bright Justice had turn renegades and free an changeling mare...